Happy Valentine's Day!

Today Sizzix is celebrating Valentine's Day with a blog hop featuring the amazing "From the Heart" dies by Eileen Hull!
The Sizzix design team members have been busy creating projects with these dies, so please visit their blogs,  they are all incredibly talented!
For my project, I have used Eileen's Valentine Scoreboard XL Box die, Easel Pro die, and Flowers with Heart Petals die.  Here's my project:


The easel is my first Pro Big Shot die that I have used, and I love it!  I think this easel will be used a lot, especially for small gifts.  I started by cutting out the easel with Sizzix's Sizzles 12 x 12 Mat Board.

I then covered the front and back with Ranger's adhesive Metal Foil Sheets.  Next, I embossed the entire easel, doing this in sections (top, bottom and each side) with Sizzix's Daisy Blast & Paisley Palooza Textured Impression set.

I've used this technique quite a few times, I never get tired of using it and it always comes out different, depending on the products you use.
Paint the entire surface with black paint and then swipe the surface with a paper towel, removing the paint on the raised areas.  After the paint dried, I lightly sanded the raised parts and alcohol inked the bare metal with Espresso Alcohol ink.  After the easel was dry I glued the side pieces to the front.


There's my easel, now the heart shadow box.  I cut out the Valentine Scoreboard XL Box with the white mat board and assembled my box.


I then cut out the heart (not the sides) twice from patterned paper.  Instead of die-cutting out the sides again, I cut out strips the same width, for the inside and the outside of the box.  Cover the inside and the outside rim of the heart, then the back and inside with the heart shape.  Ink the edges.


For the gathered trim, I cut out strips of paper about 1" wide.  Machine gather the strips, wet the paper, blot it lightly, and then carefully gather.  Once this dried, I glued it around the outer edge of the heart.  Add a bow to the top. Now you are ready to decorate the inside!  
For the inside, I die cut flowers using Eileen's Heart Petal Flowers.  I made two, one larger than the other.  I also die-cut the film strip and tickets with Sizzix's Tim Holtz Mini Filmstrip & Mini Ticket Decorative Strip die.  Tim's mini ticket stamp from his collection, "Going Somewhere" fit perfect.
I adhered some light acrylic, stamped with white Stazon and a Dictionary stamp from Stephanie Barnard behind the filmstrip and then curled the one end.

There's my finished heart.  I've started making a heart shadow box every year for Valentine's Day, so eventually I think I'll have a nice collection!  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and check out Eileen's other dies, I know there's quite a few that are my favorite ones to use!  I should mention that the papers I used were from Basic Grey's True Love collection.
When you visit the Sizzix blog, don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a Eileen Hull prize package!  Have fun visiting the Sizzix Design Team blogs for lots of inspiration!

                 Jan Hobbins  that's me!

Happy Valentine's Day,

Jan

35 comments

SusanK said...

That easel is amazing! A perfect way to display your heart!

Shelly Hickox said...

What a cool idea to use the heart as a shadowbox!! And the metal covered easel is incredible. I love this project - you are so talented, Jan!

Theresa said...

Holy cow! How do you come up with these things??? It is incredible!

Amy Friend said...

Oh, just beautiful. I agree with Shelly--great use of the box as a shadow box. I also love the ruffle around the outside!

eileen hull said...

Oh Jan- wow. That easel is amazing- love the foil embossing technique. I am totally borrowing that one... And using the heart box as a shadowbox? On the easel? Genius. The gathered paper ruffle is also super cool. I love it all- thanks so much for taking the time to play with my dies!

Anna-Karin said...

Wow Jan, what a fabulous idea for the heart box die. Love it!! It is beautifully embellished and the easel is the perfect backdrop for it.

Sarah said...

I love the contrast of your soft and sweet shadowbox resting on the bold metal easel. Beautiful project!

Richele Christensen said...

Jan, this is so beautiful! Love how you made the heart a shadow box and the gathered ruffle is a perfect touch!

Наталья Фадеева said...

Smartly! Smartly looks!

Sarah Biswabic said...

Your project is so beautiful!
bbiswabic@new.rr.com

Disco Queen said...

Love It!

Astrid Maclean said...

This is beautiful and I love the stand you have created for it! The metal effect looks great!

Cynthia Clark said...

Gorgeous and I love the gathered paper trim!

Gretchen said...

What an awesome idea to display it like a shadow box. It's stunning!

Debbie K. said...

Jan, this is so clever! Love the lace effect around the heart. So pretty!

Sally-Ann Huson said...

Just beautiful - love the foil embossing technique.

Nan G said...

Wow! Fabulous easel and heart box. Love that easel wish it came smaller.

Claudine said...

So pretty, I just love it.

slbt17 said...

beautiful - even the stand is a work of art!
Sandra ltb

Dame Jeanne Marie said...

Amazing work!! Love your easel and the way you made the heart into a shadow box. I like the way your brain works...lol

Kathy said...

You gals are blowing me away today with these projects! What scrapper wouldn't use that beautiful easel! Breathtaking! And sweet box!

Beejay said...

Very lovely! Love the techniques on the stand!!!

whyte said...

Your technique for the easel is fabulous! Thanks for sharing. And shrines and shadow boxes are so trending right now, I'm getting hooked on creating them!

Linda S. said...

What a stunning project you have created for us. I have not seen the "ruffled, gathered paper technique before. You are very creative and filled with beautiful ideas. Thanks for sharing.

csigaszabo said...

wow, it is super fun with that metallic easel!

Tiff said...

Jan, this is amazing! I was hoping someone would create a shadowbox heart!!! I had it in my head, but I lack the umph that you possess ;) Your easel is amazing as well!

Sonia said...

Love your project! The heart is so sweet and the easel is amazing!

Tammy Tutterow said...

Oh Jan! I love this more than I can say. mad love!

ionabunny said...

Love the technique you used to colour that fantastic easel and your heart box is just delicious. Fantastic project

Larissa Heskett said...

AWESOME!! I LOVE your projects!! Such AMAZING details!! THANKS for sharing and have a Fabulous Week!! =)

Lisa H said...

wow that's cool!! What a great idea to make a new shadow box each year.

Denise Bryant said...

Great project! Love the easel and box! Wow!
DeniseB

Cynthia Baldwin said...

This project is really a work of art! Love the metal finish to the easel base.

Unknown said...

One of the best design for this valentines gift

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Unknown said...

Love this! Great tips. Thanks For sharing this with us.


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